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Neighborhood  Improve- 
ment In  and  Around 
Chicago 


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LLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


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Neighborhood 
Improvement 

In  and  About  Chicago 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE   NEIGHBORHOOD  CENTER  COMMITTEE  OP  THE 

CHICAGO   WOMAN'S  CLUB 


UlN'iVERSITY  OF 
/iT  '.^yii^'S  LIBRARY 
AT  U«BANA-CHAMPAJGN 


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Neighborhood  Improvement 
In  and  About  Chicago 


COMPILED   BY 

Amalie  Hofer 


Publishing  Committee:  Caroi^ine  A.  Bi^Ey 

Nei^we  J.  O'Connor 
Annie  W.  Johnson 
Amawe  Hofer 


JUNE)     1909 


NEWELL  B.  STILES  &  CO.,  PRINTERS 
85  Fifth  Avenvue    CHICAGO 


301.16  T.U/ 


^ 


NEIGHBORHOOD    IMPROVEMENTS   INAUGU- 
RATED BY  THE  NEIGHBORHOOD  CENTER 
COMMITTEE  FROM  1901  TO  1909. 


The  organization  of  neighborhoods  for  local  improve- 
ments has  had  a  unique  development  in  Chicago.  It  has 
been  said  by  so  eminent  a  civic  authority  as  Horace  Mc- 
Farland  that  the  major  portion  of  civic  and  neighborhood 
work  done  throughout  our  country,  has  been  done  by  the 
women.  The  Chicago  Woman's  Club  is  widely  recognized 
as  an  inaugurator  of  those  improvements  which  come 
under  the  descriptive  title  of  ''municipal  housekeeping." 
With  intelligent  sympathy  the  Club  has  frequently  an- 
ticipated the  needs  of  our  all  too  rapidly  growing  city, 
and  promptly  undertaken  the  solution  of  these  problems 
with  characteristic  Chicago  zeal  and  effectiveness. 

During   1901   and   1902  the  Chicago  Woman's   Club 

of  nearly  one  thousand  members,  made  a  study  of  the 

physical  needs  of  our  city  in  order  to  find  out  what  this 

s-ame  organization  could  do  to  relieve  the  city  of  certain 

<^  undesirable  conditions,  and  to  promote  a  better  Chicago. 

With  this  in  view  plans  were  proposed  by  each  of  the  six 

working  departments  and  presented  for  consideration  to 

the  Club  as  a  whole.    At  a  meeting  held  April  23,  1902, 

i  it  was  voted  by  an  enthusiastic  and  intelligent  majority 

^  that  the  efforts  of  the  Club  should  be  directed  toward :  (1) 

^  improving  the  physical  conditions   of   Chicago  through 

the  agency  of  the  Improvement  Association,  (2)  toward 

^^^-^  the  extension  of  school  privileges  and  the  use  of  school 

houses  for  public  meetings. 

'jj^  A  special  committee  was  immediately  formed  under 

li-  the  name  of  Social  Improvement  Centers  Comittee,  with 


the  following  members :  Chairman,  Mrs.  Annie  W.  John- 
son; Edith  C.  Hancock,  Ellen  M.  Henrotin,  Julia  P.  Har- 
vey, Jane  Eyer  Smoot,  Caroline  M.  Hill,  Nellie  J.  O'Con- 
nor, Caroline  S.  Twyman,  Celia  Parker  Woolley,  Frances 
Whidden,  Mary  G.  Ayers.  The  committee  came  to  be 
known  as  the  Neighborhood  Center  Committee  of  The 
Chicago  Woman's  Club,  and  has  continued  in  active 
service  under  the  following  leadership: 

Chairman,  1902-3  Mrs.  Frank  Asbury  Johnson. 

1903-6  Mrs.  John  O'Connor. 

1906-9  Mrs.  John  C.  Bley. 

1909-     Mrs.  F.  J.  Scott. 

The  original  program  of  the  committee  was  to  organ- 
ize Neighborhood  Centers  for  the  purpose  of  improving 
the  general  physical  condition  of  the  city,  with  the  school- 
house  or  social  settlement  of  each  district  as  headquarters 
for  the  Center,  dealing  with  the  following  special  re- 
forms :  Sanitation,  smoke  nuisance,  street  and  alley 
cleaning,  care  of  vacant  lots,  garbage  disposal,  spitting 
ordinance  and  more  general  civic  education. 

An  Association  had  been  organized  in  Woodlawn  as 
early  as  1882,  mainly  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  side- 
walks free  from  snow,  the  district  being  large  and  sparse- 
ly settled. 

In  1901  the  South  Park  Association,  the  first  of  the 
new  Associations,  was  organized,  largely  through  the 
influence  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Neighborhood  Center 
Committee  of  the  next  year,  Mrs.  Annie  W.  JohnSon.  The 
main  object  in  organizing  this  Association  was  to  secure 
the  removal  of  the  garbage  receptacles,  cans,  barrels  or 
whatever  they  might  be,  from  the  sidewalks  in  front  of 
the  houses,  there  being  no  alleys  in  the  district.  This  was 
accomplished  by  making  a  personal  house  to  house  can- 
vass of  the  district,  thereby  raising  enough  money  to  put 
an  extra  man  on  each  garbage  wagon  who  should  go  to 
the  rear  of  the  house  and  bring  the  can  to  the  wagon, 
thus  ridding  the  street  of  this  unsightliness. 


WORK  DURING    1903-1906. 

The  chief  work  of  the  Neighborhood  Center  Com- 
mittee under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  John  O'Connor  for 
the  years  1903  to  1906  was  the  organization  of  local  Im- 
provement Associations.  The  success  of  the  South  Park 
Improvement  Association  served  as  an  impetus  and  a 
model  to  the  formation  of  others.  In  1903  the  Hvde 
Park  Association  was  formed,  the  initial  meeting  being 
held  at  the  home  of  the  chairman,  immediately  followed 
by  a  public  mass  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the 
entire  neighborhood.  This  came  to  be  the  usual 
way  of  organizing:  first,  a  small  meeting  called 
at  the  home  of  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club, 
at  which  the  local  problems  were  fully  discussed,  followed 
by  a  mass  meeting  of  citizens  at  which  the  organization 
of  an  Improvement  Association  for  that  district  was 
effected.  The  organization  was  then  incorporated  and 
the  entire  population  of  the  district  represented  in  its 
membership,  including  men,  women  and  children,  house- 
holders, residents  and  business  men.  In  each  case  the 
work  undertaken  was  not  only  that  of  upholding  the 
city's  efforts  toward  keeping  said  district  clean,  but  to 
supplement  the  city's  insufficient  means  by  such  methods 
of  its  own  as  would  make  the  district  more  habitable  and 
a  nearer  approach  to  becoming  the  ideal  setting  for 
American  homes.  The  only  work  done  by  the  citizens  of 
Hyde  Park  district  previous  to  organizing,  had  been  the 
sprinkling  of  the  streets,  $5,000  having  been  collected 
by  three  sprinkling  men  who  had  the  right  of  way  in  the 
district  and  who  charged  the  individual  hpuseholder 
whatever  they  were  able  to  collect,  varying  from  fifty 
cents  to  $3.00  per  month.  The  first  year  of  the  Associa- 
tion it  was  able  to  do  better  work  with  $3,500,  leaving 
$1,500  for  other  needs  of  the  district,  such  as  cleaning 
vacant  lots  and  picking  up  waste  paper. 

The  organization  of  the  Douglas  and  of  the  North 
Central  Improvement  Associations  followed  immediately. 
The  Douglas  Association  was  started  by  three  Club 
women  who  were  the  only  individuals  to  respond  to  the 


call  and  who  felt  that  the  formation  of  an  Association 
was  almost  hopeless.  But  a  large  mass  meeting  was  called 
and  the  Douglas  Association  has  continued  to  do  efficient 
and  original  work  during  all  these  years. 

The  North  Central  Association  was  formed  at  a  meet- 
ing held  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer,  much  of  the 
money  raised  being  expended  in  districts  less  favored  than 
those  represented  by  the  subscribers.  The  Oakland  and 
Washington  Park  Asociations  were  formed  soon  after, 
until  a  chain  of  Improvement  Associations  extended  along 
the  Lake  Front.  At  the  same  time  the  Merchant's  Club 
and  the  Commercial  Club  took  over  the  cleaning  of  the 
entire  Loop  district,  bringing  on  Mr.  Richard  T.  Fox 
from  New  York  to  superintendent  the  same. 

EXHIBIT    OF    IMPROVEMENT    WORK.     . 

In  the  fall  of  1904  the  Municipal  Museum  was 
founded  and  opened  by  the  City  Home's  Association,  in 
the  City  Library  building,  which  became  an  active 
center  for  improvement  work.  Charts  were  pre- 
pared and  exhibited  giving  complete  statistics  of 
the  improvement  associations  of  Cook  County,  and  a 
large  book  was  started  in  which  was  filed  all  the  liter- 
ature pertaining  to  them,  including  a  file  of  all  the  Year 
Books  published  by  the  different  associations. 

In  April,  1905,  a  Neighborhood  Center  exhibit  was 
installed  by  this  Committee,  demonstrating  as  far  as  pos- 
sible the  work  of  the  various  Neighborhood  Improvement 
Associations  in  the  city,  with  model  exhibits  of  street 
cleaning,  garbage  removal,  smoke  abatement,  care  of 
vacant  lots,  work  of  vacation  schools,  school  gardens, 
improvement  of  school  grounds,  railway  station  improve- 
ments, public  library,  and  public  hygiene.  The  exhibition 
was  directed  by  the  Neighborhood  Center  Committee  of 
the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  which  enlisted  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  Neighborhood  Improvement  League  of  Cook 
County,  the  Vacation  School  Committee  of  the  Chicago 
Woman's  Club,  the  Chicago  Library  Club,  and  the  Wo- 
man's Out-Door  Art  League  of  the  American  Civic  Asso- 


ciation.  In  connection  with  the  exhibition  informal  ad- 
dresses were  made  daily  at  twelve  and  at  four  o'clock 
for  three  successive  weeks.  Among  the  subjects  pre- 
sented were  the  following : 

Neighborhood  Improvement  Associations, — Needs  and 
Results;  Mrs.  Frank  Asbury  Johnson. 

Public  Schools  as  Social  Centers;  Rev.  R.  A.  White. 

The  Need  of  Improvement  Societies  Proven  by  Statis- 
tics ;  William  J.  Pringle. 

The  South  Park  Improvement  Association  (Stereopti- 
con) ;  A.  H.  Nelson. 

Smoke  Abatement ;  A.  Bement  and  T.  E.  Donnelly. 

Disposal  of  Household  Garbage;  Mrs.  A.  P.  Norton. 

Expectoration;  Edward  R.  Pritchard. 

The  Improvement  of  School  Surroundings  (Stereop- 
ticon)  ;  O.  T.  Bright 

Preservation  of  Our  Native  Wild  Flowers  (Stereopti- 
con)  ;  Chas.  F.  Millspaugh. 

The  Douglas  Improvement  Association;  Herbert  C. 
Metcalf  and  Clifford  Williams. 

Relation  of  Improvement  Associations  to  the  City 
Government;  Frank  I.  Bennett. 

Street  Paving;  Andrew  M.  Lynch. 

The  Redemption  of  Harrisburg  (Stereopticon) ; 
Charles  Zeublin. 

The  Formation  of  a  Neighborhood  Improvement  As- 
sociation; Mrs.  John  O'Connor. 

Smoke  Abatement;  Ralph  Clarkson,  Chas.  A.  Stevens, 
S.  H.  Clark  and  John  C.  Shubert. 

The  Disposal  of  Garbage;  A.  J.  Doherty  and  Mrs. 
Imogene  Paul. 

The  Children's  Part  in  Civic  Improvement  (Stereop- 
ticon) ;  E.  G.  Routzahn. 

Landscape  Art  in  the  City ;  O.  C.  Simonds. 


The  Citizens'  Improvement  Association  of  Normal 
Park;  P.  Hesse. 

The  Recognition  of  Improvement  Associations  in  the 
New  Charter ;  Francis  W.  Parker. 

The  Neighborhood  Improvement  League  of  Cook 
County;  E.  C.  Wentworth. 

Small  Park  Field  Houses ;  Rev.  J.  A.  Rondthaler. 
The  Legal  Relation  of  Improvement  Associations  to 
the  Municipality;  E.  B.  Tolman. 

Out-Door  Art  and  Civic  Improvement;  Mrs.  C.  F. 
Millspaugh. 

The  Relation  of  the  Good  Citizen  to  City  House- 
keeping; Charles  B.  Ball. 

Conference  of  Committee  of  Improvement  Associa- 
tions on  Smoke  Abatement,  Mrs.  John  C.  Hessler,  Chair- 
man. 

Railroad  Station  Improvement ;  Mrs.  A.  E.  McCrea. 

Conference  on  Co-operation  of  School  Children  in 
Civic  Improvement; 

Before  and  After  Improvement  (Stereopticon)  ; 

Civic  Improvement  Round  Table. 

It  is  still  the  hope  of  the  Committee  to  organize  this 
valuable  printed  matter  and  place  the  same  for  reference 
in  one  of  our  public  libraries. 

In  addition  to  this  a  list  of  speakers  was  furnished 
to  clubs  and  associations  and  a  propaganda  for  placing 
the  general  subject  before  the  various  clubs  and  organi- 
zations of  the  city  was  outlined.  The  Municipal  Museum 
and  this  exhibit  proved  of  great  value  to  the  growth  of 
the  work  and  served  as  a  clearing  house  center  for  the 
daily  increasing  number  of  associations.  Letters  were 
received  from  all  parts  of  our  country  and  plans  of  work 
exchanged  and  discussed  to  the  strengthening  of  the 
movement  throughout  our  city.  The  same  season  a  re- 
ception was  given  by  the  Neighborhood  Center  Committee 
in  conjunction  with  the  officers  of  the  Municipal  Museum 
in  honor  of  Mr.  Joseph  Medill  Patterson,  then  Commis- 
sioner of  Public  Works.  Mr.  Patterson  always  co-ope- 
rated heartily  with  the  improvement  associations  and  the 

8 


social  honor  done  him  on  this  occasion  was  enthusiasti- 
cally participated  in  by  delegates  from  many  organiza- 
tions, including  the  Commercial  and  Merchants'  Clubs. 
Shortly  after  this  occasion  a  new  contract  was  made 
whereby  the  city  undertook  to  pay  for  one-half  the  ex- 
pense of  cleaning  the  down  town  district,  the  other  half 
being  paid  for  by  the  Commercial  and  Merchants'  Clubs. 

THE  NEIGHBORHOOD  IMPROVEMENT  LEAGUE  OF  COOK 

COUNTY. 

At  a  call  of  the  Neighborhood  Center  Committee  of 
the  Woman's  Club,  the  Neighborhood  Improvement 
League  of  Cook  County  was  organized  in  1903  with 
thirty  associations  in  the  League.  The  object  of  the 
League  was  "to  induce  co-operation  and  harmony  of 
action  between  existing  improvement  associations  and 
to  stimulate  the  organization  of  similar  associations 
throughout  the  city  of  Chicago  and  the  County  of  Cook 
for  the  purpose  of  improving  physical  and  sanitary  con- 
ditions, to  cultivate  the  artistic  in  the  appearance  of 
streets,  alleys,  lots,  lands,  and  buildings  in  the  various 
neighborhoods ;  to  insure  the  cleaning,  improving,  and 
otherwise  caring  for  the  streets,  alleys  and  vacant  lots ; 
to  aid  in  the  education  of  the  people  to  a  proper  knowl- 
edge and  observance  of  existing  city  ordinances  and  to 
do  such  other  things  for  the  public  welfare  as  may  from 
time  to  time  be  agreed  upon  by  the  League."  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected  at  the  time  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  League : 

Mr.  Edward  C.  Wentworth,  President;  Mrs.  John 
O'Connor,  Vice-President ;  Mrs.  Frank  Asbury  Johnson, 
Secretary;  Mrs.  Irving  Washington,  Treasurer.  Execu- 
tive Committee :  Mr.  Frederick  F.  Norcross,  Mr.  Herbert 
C.  Metcalf,  Mr.  Edward  G.  Carter,  Mr.  Willard  P. 
Stearns,  Mr.  Chas.  Hull  Ewing. 

Each  association  in  this  League  is  entitled  to  elect  a 
member  to  the  Board  of  Directors,  otherwise  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  local  association  becomes  a  member  of  the 


Board.  The  expenditures  of  the  League  are  met  through 
an  annual  membership  fee  of  $2.00,  contributed  by  each 
association  or  individual  affiliated  with  it.  The  League 
has  published  and  distributed  the  following  rules  which 
it  commends  to  newly  organized  associations : 

ARTICLE  I. 

The  object  of  this  association  is  to  interest  residents  of  the 
district  bounded  as  follows : 

1st.     In   securing  proper  and   durable   streets  and  alleys. 

2nd.     In  keeping  streets  and  alleys  clean. 

3rd.  In  securing  uniform  sprinkling  of  macadamized  streets 
and  washing  of  asphalt  streets  at  reasonable  cost. 

4th.  In  removing  snow  from  front  of  vacant  lots,  street 
crossings  and  sewer  inlets  in  winter. 

5th.  In  cultivating  among  residents  of  the  district  personal 
pride  in  keeping  it  clean,  free  from  loose  papers,  advertising 
signs  and  untidy  vacant  lots. 

6th.  In  familiarizing  the  residents  of  the  district  with  the 
requirements  of  the  clean  street  ordinance  and  enforcing  its 
observance. 

7th.  In  co-operating  with  city  officials  and  employes  and 
working  for  such  other  things  affecting  public  welfare  as  are 
from  time  to  time  deemed  wise  b}^  the  association  or  its  Board 
of  Directors. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Any  resident  of  this  district  may  become  a  member  of  this 
association  upon  signing  an  agreement  to  render  moral  and 
financial  support,  the  latter  to  such  an  extent  as  he  may  feel  able. 

ARTICLE  III. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  be  elected  annually  by  the 
members  and  shall  consist  of  men  and  women.  They  shall 
elect  and  control  the  officers  of  the  association  and  fill  any  va- 
cancies that  may  occur  in  their  own  number. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

The  officers  of  this  association  to  be  elected  by  the  Directors, 
shall  consist  of  a  President,  three  or  more  Vice-Presidents,  a 
Secretary   and   a   Treasurer. 

ARTICLE  V. 

These  By-Laws  may  be  amended  by  the  members  or  direc- 
tors at  any  meeting  which  shall  be  regularly  called. 

10 


The  last  annual  meeting  of  the  League  was  held  in 
April,  1909,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
President,  C.  T.  B.  Goodspeed;  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
John  O'Connor;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Irving  Washington; 
Secretary,  T.  W.  AUinson.  Directors :  Mrs.  John  C. 
Bley,  Dr.  C.  Gurnee  Fellows,  Mr.  Chas.  W.  Folds,  Mrs. 
Frank  A.  Johnson,  Mr.  John  Morey,  Mr.  Frederick  T. 
Norcross,  Mrs.  F.  J.  Scott,  Mr.  Willard  P.  Stearns,  Mr. 
Edward  C.  Wentworth,  Mrs.  J,  Zuckerman.  At  this  meet- 
ing of  the  League  a  special  committee  was  appointed  to 
press  the  enforcement  of  the  law  regulating  the  height 
of  bill  boards ;  also  a  committee  appointed  to  co-operate 
with  a  similar  sub-committee  of  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club  to  enforce  the  ordinance  against  spitting  in  public 
places ;  a  committee  was  appointed  to  make  complaint  and 
secure  the  removal  of  indecent  bill  posters ;  all  organiza- 
tions in  the  League  were  urged  to  give  their  hearty  sup- 
port to  the  new  city  forester,  Mr.  J.  H.  Prost. 

ACTIVITIES  DURING  1906. 

During  1906  the  Neighborhood  Center  Committee  of 
Chicago  Woman's  Club  under  the  chairmanship  of  Mrs. 
John  C.  Bley  re-organized  the  following  special  commit- 
tees, and  the  work  was  pushed  along  these  respective 
lines :  City  Ordinances,  Smoke,  Organizing  Improvement 
Associations,  Garbage  Reduction,  Spitting,  Bill-board 
Legislation,  School  Extension,  Finance,  Sanitation  and 
Better  Housing,  School  and  Vacant  Lot  Gardens. 

Regular  monthly  meetings  were  held  by  the  committee 
as  a  whole  to  receive  the  special  reports  of  the  chairmen 
of  these  committees.  Under  the  leadership  of  Mrs. 
Ernest  Bicknell  the  Smoke  Committee  worked  with 
members  of  the  City  Club  to  bring  about  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Smoke  Commission.  A  conference  was  held 
in  the  rooms  of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club  to  stimulate 
the  efforts  of  all  interested  toward  this  end.  Delegates 
from  many  improvement  associations  were  present.  The 
speakers  were  Mr.  T.  E.  Donnelley,  now  the  president 

11 


of  the  Smoke  Commission;  Mr.  A.  Bement,  who  has 
since  become  Consulting  Engineer  for  the  Smoke  Com- 
mission, and  Mr.  R.  H.  Kuss,  now  Assistant  Smoke  In- 
spector. As  a  result  of  this  conference  special  smoke 
committees  were  appointed  by  a  number  of  improvement 
associations  and  active  work  was  taken  up  all  along  the 
line. 

The  Committee  to  enforce  the  Spitting  Ordinance 
has  waged  a  constant  warfare  against  spitting  in  public 
places,  the  campaign  being  pushed  by  the  written  com- 
plaints to  the  Health  Commission  as  well  as  to  the 
newspapers.  Mr.  John  T.  McCutcheon  gave  the  work  his 
co-operation  by  the  contribution  of  a  telling  cartoon.  The 
committee  has  recently  succeeded  in  having  large  and 
conspicuous  signs  posted  in  all  of  the  stations  of  the 
Southside  Elevated  Railway. 

The  Garbage  Committee  has  investigated  the  rela- 
tion of  garbage  disposal  to  public  health  and  has  pointed 
out  that  in  no  part  of  the  city's  housekeeping  is  the 
service  more  inadequate  or  the  methods  more  antiquated. 
It  has  also  reported  on  methods  of  garbage  incineration 
adopted  by  other  cities. 

The  School  Extension  Committee  under  Mrs.  Frank 
A.  Johnson  has  continued  its  effort  to  modify  the  ruling 
of  the  Board  of  Education  with  reference  to  the  use  of 
public  school  rooms  for  civic  purposes.  As  it  now  stands 
adults  or  parents  are  entitled  to  the  free  use  of  school 
buildings  once  per  month,  while  schools  may  be  secured 
at  usual  rates  of  rental  for  general  purposes.  However, 
the  full  free  use  of  their  schools  by  the  citizen  owners 
for  social  and  neighborhood  purposes  still  remains  one 
of  the  conquests  of  the  future.  In  the  meantime  the 
small  park  has  come  into  existence  with  its  field  house 
which  is  supplying  a  meeting-place  for  its  neighborhood. 

TWO    MASS    MEETINGS. 

In  the  autumn  of  1907  the  Neighborhood  Center  Com- 
mittee invited  all  of  the  leading  clubs  of  both  men  and 

12 


women  to  participate  in  holding  a  down  town  mass  meet- 
ing in  the  interests  of  "A  Better  Chicago."  A  large  and 
interested  audience  gathered  at  Fullerton  Hall,  Sunday 
afternoon,  November  10th,  and  the  following  program 
was  conducted  by  the  joint  committee: 

Presiding  Officer,  Mr.  Edward  C.  Wentworth,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Neighborhood  Improvement  League  of  Cook 
County. 

Address,  "The  Common  Good,"  Senator  Francis  W. 
Parker. 

"Co-operation  for  the  Promotion  of  Public  Health," 
Dr.  W.  A.  Evans,  City  Health  Commissioner. 

"Clean  Streets  for  Chicago,"  Rev.  Caroline  Bartlett 
Crane,  Kalamazoo,  Mich. 

"A  Cleaner  City  as  a  Commercial  Asset,"  Mr.  Franklin 
McVeagh. 

"Suppression  of  the  Smoke  Nuisance,"  Mr.  T.  E. 
Donnelley. 

"Better  Facilities  for  Public  Recreation,"  Miss  Jane 
Addams,  Hull  House. 

This  meeting  was  followed  by  a  series  of  meetings 
held  in  field  houses,  settlement  houses,  and  public  halls 
as  well  as  churches  at  many  of  which  the  superintendent 
of  streets  and  the  ward  superintendents  were  present.' 
The  notable  address  by  Caroline  Bartlett  Crane  on  this 
occasion  was  published  in  full  by  the  committee  and  sent 
to  each  member  of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club  as  well  as 
extensively  circulated  throughout  the  neighborhood  im- 
provement associations  of  the  city. 

In  1909  a  second  mass  meeting  was  conducted  under 
the  joint  auspices  of  the  representative  men's  and  women's 
clubs  of  the  city,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Neighborhood 
Center  Committee.  "Tree  Planting  and  Preservation  in 
Chicago"  was  the  subject,  and  the  program  aimed  to 
give  publicity  to  the  tree  legislation  already  existing 
in  our  state  and  the  importance  of  securing  a  city 
forester  for  Chicago.    The  meeting  was  held  on  Sunday 

13 


afternoon  at  Fullerton  Hall;  January  31,  1909,  with  Mr. 
Franklin  McVeagh  as  the  presiding  officer.  A  large 
audience  of  enterprising  citizens  listened  to  the  following 
program : 

Insect  Enemies  of  Trees  (with  charts),  Dr.  S.  A. 
Forbes,  State  Entomologist,  University  of  Illinois. 

Legislative  Provision  in  Illinois,  Mr.  John  O'Connor. 

Municipal  Control  of  Shade  Trees  (with  stereopticon), 
Mr.  William  Solotaroff,  Secretary  and  Superintendent 
Shade  Tree  Commission,  East  Orange,  New  Jersey. 

As  a  definite  result  of  this  important  meeting  a  per- 
manent Tree  Committee  was  appointed  as  follows: 

Franklin  McVeagh,  Chairman. 

John  Algots,  Superintendent  Small  Parks,  Special 
Park  Commission. 

Aid.  A.  W.  Beilfuss,  Chairman  Special  Park  Com- 
mission. 

Mrs.  I.  S.  Blackwelder,  Former  Chairman  Vacation 
Schools  Committee. 

Mrs.  Caroline  A.  Bley,  Chairman  Neighborhood  Cen- 
ter Committee,  Chicago  Woman's  Club. 

Orville  T.  Bright,  Assistant  Superintendent  of 
Schools. 

Ralph  Clarkson,  President  Municipal  Art  League. 

Prof.  Henry  C.  Cowles,  Botanist,  University  of  Chi- 
cago. 

B.  A.  Eckhart,  Treasurer  West  Park  Commission. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Evans,  Commissioner  of  Health. 

Chas.  Hull  Ewing,  Real  Estate. 

Frederick  Greeley,  President  Playground  Association. 

C.  T.  B.  Goodspeed,  President  South  Park  Improve- 
ment Association. 

A.  W.  Glessner,  Chairman  Municipal  Art  Committee, 
Hamilton  Club. 

Dr.  C.  Gurnee  Fellows,  President  Kenwood  Improve- 

14 


ment  Association. 

Geoipe  E.  Hooker,  Secretary  City  Club. 

Jens  Jensen,  Superintendent  West  Park  Commission. 

James  Keeley,  Director  Horticultural  Society  of  Chi- 
cago. 

Bryan  Lathrop,  Lincoln  Park  Commission. 

Frank  C.  Logan,  Broker. 

Charles  A.  Marsh,  Vice-President,  Marsh  &  Bingham 
Company. 

Frank  L  Moulton,  Chairman  City  Club,  Committee 
on  Parks. 

John  O'Connor,  Attorney. 

Mrs.  P.  S.  Peterson,  Outdoor  Art  League. 

A.  E.  Schultz,  President  Federation  Southwest  Im- 
provement Clubs. 

O.  C.  Simonds,  Landscape  Architect. 

J.  C.  Vaughan,  President  Vaughan's  Seed  Company. 

Charles  Vopicka,  President  Atlas  Brewing  Company. 

Lyman  A.  Walton,  South  Park  Commission. 

Ernst  Wienhoeber,  Second  Vice-President,  Horticultu- 
ral Society  of  Chicago. 

This  representative  committee  proceeded  at  once  to 
secure  a  city  forester  for  Chicago.  The  Mayor  himself 
presented  the  request  to  the  City  Council  at  its  first 
meeting  and  the  Council  immediately  ordered  the  ap- 
pointment at  an  annual  expenditure  of  $2,000.00.  Thirty 
men  took  the  civil  service  examination  for  the  position 
which  was  awarded  to  J.  H.  Prost  of  Chicago,  who  now 
acts  under  the  Special  Park  Commission  of  our  city.  The 
Commission  has  opened  a  veritable  tree  campaign  by  pub- 
lishing and  distributing  a  pamphlet  on  ''The  Inception  of 
the  Movement  for  Tree  Planting  in  the  Streets  of  Chi- 
cago." It  has  also  sent  out  a  reprint  of  the  city  ordi- 
nance relating  to  "The  Planting,  Preservation  and  Pro- 
motion of  Trees  and  Shrubbery  in  the  Streets  and  the 
Employment  of  a  City  Forester." 

15 


Anyone  wishing  further  information  or  assistance  in 
tree  planting  or  preservation  should  apply  to  the  City 
Forester,  City  Hall,  Chicago,  or  to  the  State  Entomolo- 
gist, University  of  Illinois,  Urbana,  Illinois. 

ILLINOIS  OUTDOOR  IMPROVEMENT  ASSOCIATION. 

As  a  result  of  the  tree  planting  and  preservation  com- 
mittee the  chairman  of  the  Neighborhood  Center  Com- 
mittee was  interviewed  by  a  representative  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois  and  preliminary  conferences  were  held 
to  consider  the  organization  of  a  State  Outdoor  Improve- 
ment Association.  President  Edmond  J.  James  invited 
the  mayors  and  women's  clubs  of  twenty  towns  from 
Cairo  to  Freeport  to  send  delegates  to  a  conference  to  be 
held  March  31st  at  the  University.  At  this  conference 
the  following  committee  on  organization  and  program 
for  a  later  state-wide  meeting  was  appointed.  Pres- 
ident Edmond  J.  James,  Chairman ;  Mrs.  John  C.  Bley, 
Chicago;  Mr.  H.  C.  Schaub,  Decatur;  Mr.  George  E. 
Hooker,  Chicago;  Prof.  A.  P.  Wyman,  University  of 
Illinois. 

"The  object  of  the  Illinois  JDutdoor  Improvement  As- 
sociation is  to  promote  physical  improvement  throughout 
the  state  in  both  town  and  country,  and  to  stimulate  effort 
in  the  educational  institutions  of  the  state  toward  the  ac- 
compHshment  of  this  object,  to  dispense  information  upon 
home,  country  and  municipal  improvement  problems,  to 
encourage  and  co-operate  with  the  formation  of  local 
organizations  having  the  beauty  of  Illinois  for  their  ob- 
ject, wholly  or  in  part,  and  to  work  for  the  preservation 
of  important  pieces  of  natural  scenery  and  historical 
points." 

THE   CIVICS   COMMITTEE  OF  THE   CHICAGd  WOMAN's   CLUB. 

At  the  closing  business  meeting  of  the  Chicago  Wo- 
man's Club  for  the  season  1908-09  the  name  of  the  Neigh- 
borhood Center  Committee  was  changed  to  The  Civics 

16 


Committee  of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  it  being  the 
conviction  of  the  Club  that  this  title  more  adequately 
described  the  enlarged  scope  of  work  already  ac- 
complished and  about  to  be  undertaken  by  the  Committee. 
With  this  change  of  name  the  story  of  the  Neigh- 
borhood Center  Committee,  as  such,  comes  to  a  close  and 
it  hereby  presents,  as  its  final  contribution,  this  historical 
sketch  of  its  work,  together  with  the  following  impos- 
ing, although  incomplete  roster  of  Improvement  Associa- 
tions in  and  about  Chicago.  The  benefits  which  have 
been  secured  to  our  city^by  means  of  these  voluntary  or- 
ganizations can  never  be  measured,  nor  can  appreciation 
be  justly  apportioned  to  those  individuals  who  have  been 
most  efficient  in  this  great  civic  service.  The  permanent 
value  of  the  work  is  evidenced  in  the  better  enforcemnt 
of  sanitary  laws,  smoke  abatement,  cleaner  streets  and 
garbage  regulations,  at  a  continuous  annual  expenditure 
of  $150,000.00.  In  addition  to  these  visible,  physical 
results  there  is  another  of  far  greater  import,  namely, 
the  clearly  developed  conviction  among  our  citizens  that 
it  is  worth  while  to  have  ideals  for  a  beautiful  Chicago 
and  that  every  practical  effort,  hozvever  small,  to  that 
end  counts. 


17 


ROSTER   OF   IMPROVEMENT  ASSOCIATIONS. 


(The  following  facts  were  furnished  to  the  Neighborhood 
Center  Committee  by  officers  or  members  of  the  respective  asso- 
ciations at  the  request  of  the  Committee.) 

Auburn  Park  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1901.  The  officers  for  1909:  President,  E.  V. 
Sharp;  Secretary,  G.  W.  Leach;  Treasurer,  B.  A.  Specs;  rep- 
resentative of  "the  citizens,  residents  and  taxpayers."  Annual 
membership,  $1,00.  Territory  from  74th  Street  to  83rd  Street 
and  from  Halsted  to  State  Streets.  During  1908-09  fourteen 
distinct  petitions  were  made  to  the  city  council  and  city  depart- 
ments bringing  great  improvements. 

Austin  Improvement  Association. 

Organized,  May,  1903,  by  Austin  Woman's  Club.  Incor- 
porated 1904.  Year  Book,  1904-5,  shows  expenditure  of  $2,653.00. 
City  took  over  the  entire  work  in  1908  and  the  association  was 
succeeded  by  the  Parents"  Association.  When  the  original  asso- 
ciation was  organized  the  women  distributed  2,000  circulars  in- 
viting the  public  to  hear  twenty-two  prominent  business  men 
and  women  make  five  minute  speeches.  The  meeting  was  a 
great  success.  Among  prominent  citizens  who  have  been  active 
are  Hon.  Clayton  E.  Crafts,  Judge  C.  S.  Cutting,  Mr.  J.  J. 
Walser,  Mrs.  Rena  S.  Tuthill.  The  territory  was  divided  into 
blocks  with  a  director  in  charge  of  each  block  to  procure  sub- 
scriptions to  clean;  and  sprinkle  the  streets,  etc. 

Beverly-Longwood  Improvement  Association. 

Incorporated  1905.  President,  J.  T.  Hetherington ;  Secre- 
tary, Prof.  S.  Smith ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Blackburn.  Suburban 
territory.     Budget  $400.00.     Conducts  sane  Fourth, 

Buenna  Park  Citizen's  Association. 

Chartered  1894.  Reorganized  1904  with  twelve  working 
committees.  Non-partisan.  152  members.  Young  People's  Aux- 
iliary 150  members.  The  annual  report  for  1907  shows  receipts 
$2,350.00.  Same  report  gives  full  list  of  birds  to  be  observed 
in  the  vicinity. 

Chicago  Lawn  Improvement  Club. 

Organized  in  1903.     Headquarters  in  Marquette  Park.     D'/s- 

18 


trict  divided  into  four  sections  with  two  reporting  representa- 
tives in  each.  Annual  membership  fee  $2.00.  Officers  for  1909: 
President,  Walter  J.  Bennett;  Vice-President,  W.  N.  Butter- 
worth;  Secretary,  George  N.  Tobey;  Treasurer,  Edward  H. 
Jones.  Publishes  Weekly  Bulletin.  Conducted  successful  Fourth 
of  July  celebrations  in  1907  and  1908.  Has  secured  the  erection 
of  a  modern  public  school  building,  three  public  lectures,  through 
service  of  street  cars  and  elevation  of  Grand  Trunk  railway 
tracks. 

Central  Improvement  Club  of  the  27th  Ward. 

Organized  in  1898.  Special  committees  formed  whenever 
important  improvements  require.  Regular  monthly  membership 
fee,  twenty-five  cents.  Voluntary  subscriptions  for  special  im- 
provements. Officers  for  1909:  President,  C.  Heckinger;  Secre- 
tary, Albert  Haentze;  Treasurer,  H.  Kellar.  Has  worked  to 
secure  Belmont  Avenue  sewer  and  cross-town  car  service. 

Central  Edgewater  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1904.  Average  expenditure  $1,000.00  per  year. 
In  addition  to  the  usual  improvement  work  this  association 
aims  to  "look  after  the  general  welfare  of  the  community,"  ex- 
tending school,  street  lighting  and  mail  box  facilities. 

Citizen's  Street  Cleaning  Bureau. 

President,     J.     L.     Kesner,     the     Fair ;     Secretary,     Elmer 
Schlesinger,    Rector    building.      $30,000    contributed    by    private 
citizens  has  been  distributed  by  this  bureau  regardless  of  loca- 
tion. 
Douglas  Improvement  Association. 

Incorporated  1904.  President,  L.  B.  Nixon;  Vice-Presi- 
dents, Joseph  Beifeld,  W.  C.  Wetherly;  Secretary,  J.  M.  Graves; 
Treasurer,  William  P.  Wright ;  Superintendent,  J.  A.  Graves. 
Active  members,  800.  Membership  enrolled  1,250.  Expenditure 
for  the  season  1907-08,  $5,610.00.  Fine  equipment.  Territory 
forty  blocks.  In  addition  to  the  usual  work  the  association  aims 
to  cultivate  among  residents  a  personal  pride  in  keeping  the 
district  clean,  free  from  flying  papers,  advertising  signs  and 
untidy  vacant  lots. 
Essex  Improvement  Club. 

Organized,  1902.  Residence  district.  President,  Charles  T. 
Traynor ;  Secretary,  C  L.  Follett.  Maintains  streets  and  side- 
walks in  good  condition,  procures  street  lighting,  and  opposes 
the  construction  of  objectionable  buildings  and  location  of  un- 
desirable business  houses  or  factories. 

19 


Fifteenth  Ward  East  End  Improvement  Association. 

Organked,  1907. 

President,  Frank  C.  Stubbe;  Secretary,  John  B.  Heinz; 
Treasurer,  Herman  F.  Bruhm. 

Fine  Arts  Society  of  Oak  Park. 

Formerly  the  Oak  Park  Improvement  Association.  600 
members.  Special  committees  to  direct  the  culture  interests  in 
music,  literature,  craft  and  municipal  art.  Conducts  spring 
cleaning  campaigns,  making  public  inspection  of  the  entire  village 
and  photographing  all  property  not  cleaned  up,  for  publication. 
Pushing  play  grounds  for  children.  President  Chas.  E. 
White,  Secretary  Chas.  S.  Woodward,  Treasurer  H.  W. 
Austin. 

Galewood  People's  Improvement  Club. 

Organized  in  1908  *'to  promote  the  general  welfare  of  Gale- 
wood  and  vicinity."  President  Walter  L.  Tonner;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, William  H.  Gale ;  Treasurer,  Henry  Hansen.  The  club 
has  petitioned  the  city  council  for  prohibition  limits ;  has  secured 
a  new  railway  station  from  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
Railway  Company;  has  secured  grading  of  the  local  highway; 
adequate  street  lighting;  cinder  walks;  long  distance  telephone 
service;  police  call  box;  fire  hose;  small  park.  Has  organized 
a  corps  of  local  fire  fighters.     Monthly  dues,  ten  cents. 

Garfield   Improvement  Association. 

Organized  in  1905  to  prevent  the  city  from  building  a  fire 
engine  house  at  the  corner  of  56th  Street  and  Emerald  Ave. 
Incorporated  1906.  Annual  expenditure,  $1,500.  The  streets 
and  alleys  have  been  kept  in  good  condition,  the  weeds  cut  and 
sprinkling  done  in  a  thorough  manner,  all  for  the  same  cost  of 
sprinkling  alone  before  the  existence  of  the  Association.  The 
President  says  in  his  annual  report:  "Our  snowplow  proved  to 
be  a  good  investment  and  has  been  used  with  good  effect.  It 
is  felt  that  the  work  accomplished  has  added  to  the  comfort  of 
the  residents  of  the  district  and  if  kept  up  and  enlarged  will 
not  only  make  our  community  one  of  the  most  desirable  on 
the  South  Side,  but  will  greatly  enhance  the  value  of  the  prop- 
erty." In  September,  1906,  the  President,  Geo.  E.  Roth,  ap- 
pointed a  "Tree  Committee,"  composed  of  J.  C.  White  and_  G. 
M.  Starr,  by  which  a  contract  was  made  with  a  responsible 
nurseryman  whereby  property  owners  might  be  supplied  with 
nursery  stock  at  greatly  reduced  prices.  As  a  result  about  300 
trees  were  set  out  during  the  spring  of  1907. 

20 


Grand  Crossing  Improvement  Club. 

Organized  and  incorporated  1905.  District  includes  territory 
from  Cottage  Grove  Avenue  to  Stony  Island  Avenue,  and  from 
71st  Street  to  87th  Street.  Officers  for  1909:  President,  E.  P. 
Williams;  Secretary,  J.  W.  Classen.  Membership,  375.  Nineteen 
special  committees  and  eight  working  districts.  Executive  com- 
(  mittee  made  up  of  chairmen  of  sub-committees  is   the  working 

force  of  the  club.  Women  honorary  members.  Annual  fee,  $1.00. 
Complaints  are  invited  and  carefully  investigated.  The  following 
appeared  in  a  local  paper  after  the  last  annual  meeting. 

There  were  eight  regular  monthly  meetings  held  in  Turner 
Hall,  upstairs ;  two  executive  meetings  held  in  President 
Williams'  office,  and  one  special  meeting  held  in  the  office  of 
Vice-President  Math,  June  5th,  for  the  purpose  of  considering 
ways  and  means  to  induce  the  council  to  force  vhc  railways  to 
widen  the  subways  under  75th  Street  and  South  Chicago  Avenue. 
There  was  no  meeting  held  in  November.  There  were  three 
special  meetings  held  in  District  No.  1,  one  in  No.  2,  two  in  No. 
4,  and  one  in  No.  6. 

There  were  1,950  postal  cards  sent  out  notifying  members 
of  the  meetings  of  the  club  and  thirty  communications  sent  out 
by  the  secretary  by  order  of  the  club  to  public  department  officials 
and  persons  as  follows:  To  the  superintendent  of  streets,  four; 
Commissioner  Hanberg,  three ;  smoke  inspector,  two ;  oil  inspec- 
tor, one;  corporation  counsel,  three;  ward  superintendent,  five; 
manager  of  Calumet  Electric  Street  Railway,  one;  Mr.  Speedell, 
one;  lieutenant  of  police,  one;  Alderman  Hunt,  three;  Alderman 
Biehl,  two ;  secretary  Park  Manor  Improvement  Club,  one ;  secre- 
tary Anti-Smoke  League,  one;  principal  Cornell  school,  one; 
family  F.  C.  Schmidt,  one. 

During  the  year  records  show  there  were  forty  complaints 
made  in  the  different  districts  of  bad  crosswalks,  garbage,  sewers 
stopped,  etc.  Relief  in  the  way  of  repairs,  etc.,  was  effected  in 
fourteen  cases,  some  of  which  covered  several  complaints.  There 
were  nineteen  special  committees  appointed  during  the  year,  of 
which  several  have  failed  to  report  up  to  this  writing. 

Hamilton  Park  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  in  1902  as  Yale  Avenue  Improvement  Association ; 
later  as  Citizens'  Improvement  Association  of  Normal  Park  and 
Eggleston.  Incorporated  and  name  changed  in  1905  as  Hamil- 
ton Park  Improvement  Association.  Territory,  67th  Street  to 
74th  Street,  between  Rock  Island  Railroad  tracks  and  Went- 
worth  Avenue.  1,000  members.  Annual  fee,  $1.00.  1908  Year- 
Book  exceptionally  valuable.  Successive  Presidents,  T.  J.  Eulette, 
L.  O.  Rand,  Phil  Hesse,  W.  C.  Brown,  C.  T.  Northrop,  and 
George  T.   Spencer.     Secretary,  1909,  Clifford  N.  White. 

21 


The  constitution  and  by-laws  of  this  association  are  most 
commendable.  The  object  of  this  association  is  to  secure  the 
co-operation  of  property  owners  and  residents  of  the  districts 
hereinafter  named  in  public  and  private  improvements  within 
said  district,  and  to  assist  in  the  enforcement  of  such  ordinances 
as  may  be  for  the  benefit  of  said  property  owners  and  residents. 

Article  1.  Its  object  shall  be  to  provide  a  fund  by  the  assess- 
ment of  its  members,  whereby  the  district  covered  shall  be  made 
as  attractive  as  possible  for  residence.     To  attain  this  end : 

1.  In  winter  all  sidewalks  shall  be  properly  cleansed  of 
snow,  including  those  adjacent  to  vacant  property. 

2.  In  summer  all  streets  and  alleys  shall  be  properly 
sprinkled,  including  that  adjacent  to  vacant  property. 

3.  On  all  vacant  property,  parkways  shall  be  mown,  and  lots 
shall  be  kept  free  from  weeds. 

4.  All  unsightly  objects  shall  be  removed  from  vacant 
property. 

5.  Measures  shall  be  taken  for  the  prompt  removal  of  gar- 
bage, ashes  and  filth. 

6.  This  association  shall  also,  in  every  feasible  way,  assist 
the  city  authorities  in  the  enforcement  of  such  ordinances  enacted 
for  attaining  the  cleanly  condition  of  all  streets  and  alleys  (it 
being  an  offense  punishable  by  law  to  throw  any  loose  papers  or 
other  litter  into  any  street  or  alley  of  the  city). 

7.  This  association  shall  also  see  that  the  manhole  covers 
are  kept  in  proper  repair. 

8.  Any  wanton  destruction  of  globes  or  glass  on  street 
lamps  will  also  be  sought  out,  and  the  offender  reported  to  the 
proper  authorities  for  punishment. 

9.  Anything  that  will  tend  to  the  comfort,  cleanliness  and 
health  o^  the  Improvement  District  shall  have  the  association's 
energetic  support. 

Hyde   Park   Improvement  Association. 

Incorporated  1903.  President,  Walter  C.  Nelson;  Vice- 
President,  John  B.  Whitney;  Corresponding  Secretary,  C.  W. 
Bird;  Recording  Secretary,  J.  L.  Bennett;  Treasurer,  D.  A. 
Peirce;  Superintendent,  Thomas  Brown.  Territory  includes 
from  51st  Street  and  the  Lake  to  Cottage  Grove  Avenue,  from 
55th  Street  east  to  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  tracks,  and  south 
to  56th  Street.  Publishes  the  Hyde  Park  Advance.  Expends 
$10,000.00  annually.  Has  the  following  eight  active  committees : 
Finance,  Publicity,  'Street  Improvement,  Street  and  Alley  Oean- 
ing,  Vacant  Lots  and  School  Gardens,  Smoke  Ordinance,  Electric 
Wires  and  Poles  Building  Lines. 

22 


Irving  Park   Civic   Committee  of  Woman's   Club. 

Hold  joint  meeting  annually  of  all  improvement  clubs  in 
Twenty-seventh  Ward.  Promotes  tree  planting,  play  grounds, 
street  car  facilities.  Has  secured  public  school  gymnasium, 
municipal  swimming  tank.  Organized  Junior  Improvement 
League.  Unusual  enthusiasm  and  co-operation  on  part  of  local 
press. 

Kenwood  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1903.  District  bounded  by  51st  Street;  43rd 
Street,  Drexel  Boulevard  and  the  Lake.  Motto:  "It  is  some- 
thing to  use  your  time  and  strength  to  war  with  the  wayward- 
ness and  thoughtlessness  of  mankind."  President,  Dr.  C.  Gurnes 
Fellows ;  Vice-President,  Elliott  S.  Norton ;  Secretary,  Miss 
Gertrude  Libby;  Treasurer,  Miss  C.  B.  Neely.  Expenditure  in 
1908,  $11,364.00.  Attractive  Year-Book,  from  which  we  reprint 
the  following: 

The  Association's  work  consists  of  these  items : 

1.  It    gathers    refuse,   paper    and   debris    from    streets    and 

alleys. 

2.  It  removes  unsightly  and  unsanitary  accumulations  from 
vacant  lots. 

3.  It  cuts  down  and  burns  weeds. 

4.  It  sweeps  and  cleans  crossings. 

5.  It  opens  the  approaches  to  street  sewers. 

6.  It  removes  snow  from  sidewalks  by  plows,  and  opens 
obstructions  in  ice  and  snow  in  front  of  vacant  lots,  etc. 

7.  It  supplements  the  work  of  the  city  and  any  street  organ- 
ization in  all  that  is  sanitary  and  ornamental. 

8.  It  endeavors  to  exert  a  power  of  supervision  over  our 
district,  to  see  that  police  and  other  officials  are  informed,  and 
that  contractors  do  their  duty,  and  to  keep  the  wheels  moving 
where  there  is  need. 

The  Association  undertakes  to  do  what  is  not  done  by  the 
city  and  which  can  not  be  done  by  the  individual,  but  which 
must  be  done  to  keep  our  streets  and  alleys  clean.  The  sprink- 
ling of  our  streets  is  necessarily  a  private  business,  and  except 
for  the  periodical  cleaning  of  the  streets  by  the  city  the  rest 
of  the  work  must  be  done  by  private  contribution.  But,  in  addi- 
tion to  this,  and  taking  care  of  the  snow  in  the  winter,  keeping 
the  cross-walks  clean,  we  have  still  in  view  the  improvement  of 
the  lot  in  front  of  every  residence  by  the  addition  of  trees,  the 
improvement  of  the  parkways,  such  general  repairs  as  must  be 
done,  and  other  things  suggested  by  our  members  which  are 
possible  of  adoption. 

23 


Lake   Street   Business  Men's   Association. 

Organized  1904  by  W.  M.  Towne.  Chief  work,  that  of 
pushing  officials  to  enforce  laws.  Expends  $2,500.00  in  sweep- 
ing and  cleaning  one  and  one-quarter  miles  of  business  street. 
Secured  the  appointment  of  Mrs.  A.  Emmogene  Paul  as  Four- 
teenth Ward  Superintendent  of  Cleaning  in  1905.  Sent  gener- 
ous fund  to  San  Francisco  at  time  of  earthquake.  Regular  meet- 
ings addressed  by  city  officials  and  improvement  experts. 

Lawndale  Improvement  Club. 

Organized  temporarily  for  the  specific  purpose  of  remov- 
ing dead  street  car  tracks  from  Lawndale  Avenue  in  order  to 
secure  paving. 

Logan  Square  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  in  1904.  First  officers  were:  President,  Philip 
L.  Barker ;  Treasurer,  G.  W.  Wright ;  Secretaries,  B.  F.  Sim- 
mons and  John  Kiehn.  Territory,  triangular  district  between 
Hamlin,  Milwaukee  and  Fullerton  Avenues.  During  the  past 
five  years  the  association  has  pushed  citizens  to  expend  $30,000.00 
on  asphalt  paving,  cement  walks,  parking  and  setting  out  of 
trees,  and  increase  of  police  service.  In  the  accomplishment  of 
this,  the  association  has  spent  only  $75.00. 

Longwood  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1908.  President,  A.  Swett;  Secretary,  F.  M. 
Baker;  Treasurer,  W.  F.  Wood,  Annual  membership  fee,  $2.50. 
Fourth  of  July  expense,  $370.00. 

Mayfair  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1898  by  Mayfair  Woman's  Club.  President,  T.  L. 
Hiles;  Secretary,  C.  G.  Wheeler.  Reorganized  in  1907,  with  Dr. 
Joseph  Sanders  as  President;  Secretary,  C.  G.  Wheeler.  Execu- 
tive Board  made  up  of  chairmen  of  standing  committees.  Annual 
membership  fee,  $1.00. 

McCormick  District  Improvement  Association. 

Incorporated  1906.  Hadquarters  at  McCormick  Works  Club. 
President,  Chas.  Fitzner;  Secretary,  J.  T.  Bagdzinuas.  Territory 
extends  from  C.  B.  &  Q.  tracks  to  Drainage  Canal  and  from 
Ashland  Avenue  to  California  Street.  Membership  fee,  ten  cents 
per  month.  During  the  past  year  membership  has  grown  to 
include  125  porperty  owners.  The  ward  alderman  is  a  member, 
giving  full  co-operation.  He  values  the  association  because  it 
gives  him  an  opporttmity  to  hear  the  complaints  and  get  sug- 
gestions once  each  month.     The  association  has  secured  several 

24 


improvements,  among  others  the  closing  of  a  low-dance  hall,  the 
removal  of  an  objectionable  shaving  pile,  better  lights  and  cleaner 
conditions  in  the  entire  neighborhood.  The  association  is  now- 
working  to  secure  the  extension  of  the  Western  Avenue  street 
car  line  south  from  26th  Street,  also  the  building  of  a  bridge 
across  the  Drainage  Canal  at  California  Avenue,  also  the  paving 
of  all  the  streets  in  the  district. 

Montclare  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  in  1899.  First  President,  H.  H.  Peebles,  of  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St,  Paul  Railroad;  Second  President, 
Hon.  Robert  E.  Pendarvis;  Secretary  Robert  Bradshaw.  Fifty 
members.  Dues,  fifteen  cents  per  month.  Territory,  city  limits 
on  the  west  to  66th  Avenue,  and  Diversey  Avenue  to  Armitage 
Avenue.    Active  in  recent  traction  campaign. 

Morgan  Park  Village  Improvement  Society. 

Organized  1899.  President,  H.  Clay  Russell;  Vice-President, 
W.  A.  Wilkinson ;  Secretary,  Miss  M.  E.  Myrick ;  Treasurer, 
R.  B.  Thomson.  Four  working  districts.  195  members.  Receipts 
for  1908,  $1,309.00.  Supports  an  overseer,  two  men,  one  wagon 
and  one  watering  cart.  Keeps  325  premises  clear  of  rubbish. 
Sprinkles  all  macadamized  streets  twice  a  day,  mows  vacant  lots 
and  parkways,  trims  trees  of  entire  village.  During  the  past 
year  the  association  has  removed  twenty-five  dead  trees  and 
recommends  the  making  of  Tree  Day*  a  conspicuous  feature  in 
the  village.  Holds  annual  spring  rally,  combining  a  popular 
program  with  the  annual  business  meeting  of  thq  society,  which 
attracts  not  only  the  citizens  of  Morgan  Park  but  the  surround- 
ing suburbs. 

Ninth  Ward  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1903.  Outgrowth  of  Halsted  Street  Business 
Men's  Association.  150  members.  Annual  membership  fee,  $1.00. 
Original  President,  A.  I.  Donat ;  present  Chairman,  Herman 
Raddatz;  Vice-Chairman,  Joseph  Burnhardt;  Treasurer,  Charles 
Huff;  Financial  Secretary,  Ignatz  Epstein;  'Secretary,  Emil 
Mally.  Regular  and  successful  monthly  business  meetings.  Pub- 
lishes monthly  called  Advocate.  Largely  responsible  for  securing 
West  Park  No.  3.  Co-operates  with  public  officials  to  secure 
adequate  street  sprinkling,  garbage  removal  and  transportation 
facilities.  Has  accomplished  through  car  routes  and  increased 
lighting.  Is  agitating  the  relief  of  Halsted  Street  congestion. 
Recently  passed  resolutions  objecting  to  the  naming  of  the  new 
public  bath  after  a  living  politician.  Now  looking  toward  the 
planting  of  trees. 

25 


Nineteenth  Ward  Improvement  Club. 

Published  Live  Topics  for  several  years,  thereby  furthering 
local  as  well  as  general  improvement  work. 

North  Central  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1904.  Territory,  Chicago  River  to  Lincoln  Park, 
east  to  Dearborn  Avenue.  Membership  fee,  $15.00  per  year. 
Gives  staunch  support  to  Board  of  Local  Improvements.  Presi- 
dent, Frederick  F.  Norcross ;  Vice-Presidents,  Frederick  T.  West 
and  'S.  H.  Helm;  Treasurer,  Leverett  Thompson;  Secretary, 
Charles  W.  Folds ;  'Superintendent,  Richard  J.  Crawley.  Office, 
71  Rush  Street.  Among  the  most  active  and  energetic  workers 
was  the  late  Mrs.  A.  C.  McClurg.  Annual  budget,  $17,000.00. 
650  subscribers. 

North   Edgewater   Improvement   Association. 

President,  F.  W.  McKinney;  Secretary,  H.  B.  Vanzwoll. 

Norwood  Park  Improvement  Club. 

President,  Charles  J.  deBerard;  Vice-President.  Frank  M. 
Bunch;  Secretary,  M.  M.  Hoffman.  Has  accomplished  the  ex- 
penditure of  $250,000.00  in  street  pavements,  cement  walks  and 
small  parks.  Has  secured  the  building  of  a  $10,000.00  depot  by 
the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway.  Attractive  illustrated 
booklet.  Recommends  small  but  influential  membership  as  a 
requisite  for  successful  improvement  work. 

The    Oakland    Improvement    Association. 

Organized  in  1904.  Two  miles  of  territory,  from  39th  to 
43rd  Streets,  and  from  Grand  Boulevard  to  Lake  Avenue.  Em- 
ploys two  men  summer  and  winter  at  $2.00  per  day  each.  A 
collector  is  paid  ten  per  cent  of  all  collections  from  residents. 
President,  A.  B.  McCoid ;  Secretary,  Louis  M.  Grant.  A  woman 
superintendent.     Budget,  $1,500.00  per  year. 

Oak  Park  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1900.  Thirly-three  working  sections.  Chairmen 
of  sections  make  up  Executive  Board.  See  Fine  Arts  'Society  of 
Oak  Park. 

Park  Manor  Improvement  Association. 

President,  J.  F.  Peacock. 

26 


Parkside  Improvement  Club. 

President,  P.  J.  McMahon ;  Vice-President,  E.  R.  Petersen; 
Treasurer,  Evan  Pusey;  Secretary,  Wm.  C  McClain.  Organ- 
ized to  improve  Stony  Island  Avenue  and  adjoining  streets. 

Ravenswood  Improvement  Association. 

President  Frederick  I.  Morris. 

Rogers  Park  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1898.  Former  President,  James  I.  Ennis.  Annual 
fee,  $2.00.  This  being  a  vacant  lot  territory,  separate  street  asso- 
ciations are  organized  with  separate  dues,  to  do  specific  pieces 
of  work.    The  following  is  a  list  of  things  already  accomplished: 

1.  Extension  of  intersecting  sewer  on  Sheridan  Road  from 
Pratt  to  Bryan  Avenues,  distance  one  mile.    Cost,  $90,000.00. 

2.  Addition  to  Eugene  Field  School.     Cost,  $50,000.00. 

3.  Entered  fight  against  abolition  of  kindergarten  seven 
years  ago. 

4.  Secured  transfer  of  town  government  of  Evanston  Town- 
ship from  Evanston  to  Rogers  Park. 

5.  Organized  North  Shore  District. 

6.  Secured  rebate  in  taxes  eight  years  ago  to  an  amount 
exceeding  $50,000.00. 

7.  Organized  and  carried  to  successful  finish  the  fight  for 
^the  abolition  of  payment  of  more  than  five-cent  fare  from  down- 
town to  city  limits,  by  organizing  the  "Home-made  transfer." 

8.  Fought  the  Rogers  Park  Water  Company  (a  private  cor- 
poration) up  to  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  to  compel  it 
to  furnish  water  at  city  rates.     Successful. 

9.  Fought  the  C.  &  N.  W.  and  St.  P.  Railroads  until  we  com- 
pelled them  to  grant  five-cent  fares  from  Evanston  to  Chicago, 
over  the  Northwestern  Elevated  and  Union  Loop,  without  change 
of  cars. 

10.  Suppressed  noisy  Sunday  picnics  on  Lake  Shore. 

11.  Organized  the  series  of  public  mass  meetings  during 
Mayor  Harrison's  term  to  prevent  the  aldermen  from  passing 
over  the  mayor's  veto  the  nefarious  street  car  ordinance. 

12.  Had  ordinance  drawn  for  several  miles  of  cement  walks 
and  paving  of  many  streets. 

Sheridan  Park  Association. 

South   Central   Improvement   Association. 

Organized  in  1903.  Territory  from  16th  Street  to  31st 
Street,  and  from  Michigan  Avenue  to  Lake  Michigan.  Board 
of  Management,  William  Alton,  John  B.  Drake,  F.  W.  Farwell, 

27 


James  E.  Otis,  Edward  C.  Wentworth,  George  E.  Dawson.  460 
members.  Annual  budget,  $10,000.00.  Quarterly  reports.  Super- 
intendent of  Work,  H.  J.  Springer. 

South  End  Business  Men's  Association. 

Organized  1894.  Incorporated.  Territory,  south  end  of 
Thirty-Third  Ward.  Membership  of  business  men.  President, 
Herman  Teninga ;  Secretary,  H.  A.  Wray;  Treasurer,  H.  Trau- 
terjung.  Permanent  building  valued  at  $16,000.00.  Budget, 
$1,000.00  per  year.  Special  committee  on  Progress  and  Improve- 
ments. Organizes  picnics  and  outings  for  special  revenue.  In 
addition  to  street  cleaning,  has  been  instrumental  in  securing 
sewers,  sidewalks,  paved  streets  and  names  on  street  corners. 
Influential  in  securing  Palmer  Park. 

South  Park  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1901  by  a  group  of  Chicago  Woman's  Club  mem- 
bers, with  the  co-operation  of  Senator  F.  W.  Parker,  A.  H. 
Nelson,  and  others.  Territory,  the  Midway  to  55th  Street,  and 
Illinois  Central  Railway  to  Cottage  Grove  Avenue,  known  as  the 
University  communitv.  Annual  membership  fee,  $2.00.  House- 
holders' annual  fee,  $12.00  to  $30.00.  Annual  budget  ,$12,000.00. 
President,  1909,  C.  T.  B.  Goodspeed;  Vice-President,  S.  J. 
Earned;  Treasurer,  A.  G.  Lester;  Secretary,  Mrs.  E.  T.  Lee; 
Superintendent  of  Work,  Frank  V.  Irish.  A  recent  annual  report 
contains  the  following  statement : 

"As  a  neighborhood  organization,  our  Association  is  inter- 
ested in  everything  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  our  community. 
We  especially  desire  to  encourage  the  making  of  permanent  im- 
provements, and  are  willing  to  take  the  lead  in  this  good  work. 
Two  years  ago  we  planted  shrubbery  on  the  corners  of  the  park- 
ways on  57th  Street,  between  the  Illinois  Central  and  the  Uni- 
versity. A  year  ago  we  planted  a  large  number  of  trees  on  this 
much-traveled  thoroughfare,  and  this  spring  we  will  further 
improve  it  by  planting  additional  trees  and  installing  two  drink- 
ing fountains.  During  the  past  April  we  planted  eighty  or 
more  trees  on  56th  Street,  58th.  and  other  streets  in  our  district. 
Lest  w'e  forget,  we  should  also  be  reminded  that  it  was  the  South 
Park  Improvement  Association  that  persuaded  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral to  build  the  new  waiting  room  for  the  57th  Street  station." 

The  Landscape  Gardening  Committee  makes  this  plea : 

"In  conclusion,  we  have  to  plead,  not  for  financial  aid, — 
that  some  other  department  of  this  Association  is  better  able  to 
attend  to, — we  have  to  plead  for  mora!  assistance;  we  beg  of 
you  to  help  make  the  earth  more  beautiful. 

"The  work  of  this  Association  so  far  has  been  simply  from 
hand  to  mouth;  the  thing  of  the  hour — money — has  been  freely 

28 


given  for  the  necessity  of  each  day  and  the  money  has  been 
wisely  administered  for  only  these  daily  needs.  But  much  more 
is  now  to  be  done;  therefore,  we  feel  called  upon  to  say  to  you 
that  not  only  the  work  of  your  committee  on  Landscape  Archi- 
tecture is  just  begun,  but  the  work  of  your  Association  is  just 
begun.  Instead  of  being  satisfied  with  this  hand  to  mouth 
activity — these  daily  needs  in  season — there  is  permanent  work 
before  us  to  be;  considered.  All  that  has  been  done  had  to  be 
done,  and  the  needs  will  continue  to  require  that  it  shall  be  done. 
But  some  lasting  stamp  of  tlus  great  movement  must  be  fixed 
upon  the  land  we  live  in;  some  further  work  of  progress ;  stable 
and  real  improvements  must  nois^  share  in  your  deliberations." 

Sprinkles  streets  and  alleys  at  a  yearly  outlay  of  $3,000.00; 
cleans  sidewalks  in  winter ;  cares  for  vacant  lots  and  street  cross- 
ings ;  sustains  helpful  relations  with  city  officials,  and  publishes 
Monthly  Record.  Has  six  standing  committees  of  three  members 
each :  Finance,  Promotion,  Streets,  Alleys  and  Vacant  Lots, 
Trees  and  Shrubbery,  Sanitation,  Smoke. 

Third  Ward  Improvement  Association. 

Incorporated  1904.  Territory,  east  of  Michigan  Avenue,  be- 
tween 35th  and  39th  Streets.  Active  for  two  years  only.  Presi- 
dent, Rush  C.  Butler.  Spent  $2,500.00  in  street  cleaning  and 
sjscuring  from  the  city  council  sufficient  appropriation  and  more 
economical  disbursement  of  city  funds  in  the  Third  Ward,  to  the 
extent  that  the  association  was  no  longer  needed. 

Twenty-Fifth  Ward  Property  Owners*  Improvement 
Association. 

Organized  1908.  President,  Frank  C.  Hoople;  First  Vice- 
President,  A.  O.  R.  Bergengren;  Second  Vice-President,  W.  G. 
Hartwig;  Third  Vice-President,  C.  W.  Randolph;  'Secretary, 
Jas.  E.  Prendergast ;  Treasurer,  John  Umbricht ;  Financial  Secre- 
tary, L.  F.  La  Croix.  Objects  of  the  organization:  To  hurry 
the  paving'of  our  streets  and  the  improving  of  our  ward;  to  look 
after  this  work  while  it  is  being  done,  to  see  that  the  proper 
materials  are  used,  so  that  your  streets  will  not  wear  out  in  a 
few  years;  to  keep  the  cost  of  same  as  low  as  possible;  to  see 
that  your  streets  are  cleaned  regularly;  to  better  our  street  car 
and  elevated  systems;  to  secure  a  small  park  for  our  neighbor- 
hood; to  see  that  garbage  and  ashes  are  removed  regularly;  to 
keep  undesirable  characters  and  places  out  of  our  ward;  to 
regulate  our  taxes ;  to  bring  property  owners  together  and  hear 
their  complaints  and  suggestions  and  to  furnish  them  with  in- 
formation ;  to  build  up  an  organization  so  that  we  might  have 
power  to  ask  and  get  things,  alone  we  can  do  nothing;  there  are 

29 


no  politics  in  this  organization ;  the  books  of  the  secretary  and 
treasurer  are  open  to  your  inspection.  They  publish  a  monthly 
paper. 

Vincennes  Avenue  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1903.  President,  William  Garnett;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Rudolph  Wolfner ;  Treasurer,  A.  D.  Mergentheim ;  Secre- 
tary, G.  E.  Dubois.  Membership,  113.  Average  annual  expendi- 
ture, $1,500.00.     Monthly  fee,  $1.00.     Complaints  invited. 

Washington  Park  Place  Improvement  Associatit>a 

Organized  in  1901.  Area,  one  court  block,  with  fifty  house- 
holders. Expenditure,  $550.00,  including  the  provision  for  a  sane 
Fourth.  President,  Mr.  Michael  Altman;  Secretary,  Mr,  Louis 
Wessel.  Superintendent  of  Street,  Mr.  Lee  Polacheck.  The 
following  is  quoted  from  an  informal  report  made  by  one  of  the 
members : 

"Our  sane  Fourth  of  July  has  been  cared  for  by  these  same 
gentlemen.  Each  householder  who  is  willing,  contributes  $5.00, 
by  means  of  which  the  street  is  beautifully  decorated  with  lan- 
terns at  night,  games  with  prizes  are  conducted  for  the  children, 
with  singing  and  speeches  during  the  afternoon,  and  for  the 
evening,  music  by  a  hired  orchestra  and  fireworks." 

Washington   Improvement  Association. 

Organized  in  1905  by  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club.  Territory,  from  East  47th  Street  to  East  50th  'Street. 
First  President,  James  M.  Dowd,  followed  by  S.  Lederer  and 
Robert  S.  lies.  Supported  by  subscriptions  based  on  property 
frontage  of  householders.  Expenditure  during  1908,  $1,766.00. 
Annual  surplus  forms  an  equipment  fund.  Also  a  contingent 
fund  of  $1,442.00  was  created  by  special  contribution.  "The  alder- 
men, superintendent  of  streets,  and  the  ward  superintendent  have 
recognized  the  Association  and  have  cheerfully  and  kindly  aided 
us  in  carrying  out  its  purposes,  for  which  we  tender  them  sincere 
thanks." 

Wentworth  Avenue  Improvement  and  Protective  Association. 

Incorporated  1903.  Territory,  53rd  Street  to  63rd  Street. 
President,  George  F.  Eddy;  Secretary,  James  Crausie.  Active 
in  pushing  the  "traction"  question. 

West  Central  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  in  1905.  Territory  from  Michigan  Avenue  to 
Wentworth  Avenue,  between  22nd  and  35th  Streets,  half  of 
which  is  known  as  the  "Black  Belt."     President,  Guy  Guernsey. 

30 


Without  any  expense  to  the  Association,  city  officials  have  been 
pushed  to  provide  clean  streets,  perfect  lighting  of  both  streets 
and  alleys.  By  special  subscription  vacant  lots  in  the  neighbor- 
hood have  been  parked.  Working  now  to  secure  the  lighting 
of  elevated  railway  structure. 

West  End  Improvement  Club. 

President,  James  J.  Condon. 

West  End  Neighborhood  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1902.  Incorporated  1905.  Territory  includes 
Twentieth  Ward,  Thirteenth  Ward  and  Fourteenth  Ward.  Sub- 
associations  organized  for  each  specific  improvement  or  for  small 
areas,  each  doing  its  own  financing.    Secretary,  E.  L.  Stewart. 

West  Pullman  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  1899.  Territory,  Stewart  Ridge  and  West  Pull- 
man. Large  open  tracts.  Chief  work  to  fight  the  dust  of  the 
streets.  Yearly  sprinkling  expense,  $1,200.00.  Holds  annual  ban- 
quet and  furnishes  attractive  programs  at  regular  monthly  meet- 
ings. Secured  the  Illinois  Central  train  service  known  as  "Busi- 
ness Men's  Special."  Has  an  executive  committee  of  sixteen. 
At  the  annual  election  in  December  are  chosen  the  president, 
two  vice-presidents,  secretary  and  treasurer,  together  with  four 
trustees.  At  the  January  meeting  the  president  appoints  seven 
standing  committees :  Membership,  Finance,  Progress,  Legisla- 
tive, Improvement,  Entertainment,  Sprinkling.  The  chairmen 
of  these  committees,  with  the  officers  and  trustees,  constitute  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Association.  "We  have  learned  that 
the  more  we  do  the  more  the  city  will  do  for  us.  One  of  the 
things  we  wish  to  do  this  year  is  to  fraternize  with  our  foreign 
neighbors — the  newly  immigrated  Poles  and  Hungarians — and  to 
so  inoculate  them  with  the  improvement  germ  that  they  will 
speedily  learn  their  responsibilities  as  members  of  the  com- 
munity." 

Wicker  Park  Improvement  Association. 

Incorporated  1905.  Budget  in  1908-9,  $2,016.00.  Seven  hun- 
dred members.  President,  John  Mohr;  Secretary,  J.  C.  Mathie- 
son ;  Treasurer,  Andrew  Engle. 

Woman's  Cuyler  Improvement  Association. 

President,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Cannon;  Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Wrath. 
Sixty  members.  Regular  monthly  meetings  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month. 

Woodlawn  Improvement  Association. 

Organized  in  1882  as  Citizens'  Improvement  Club  of  Wood- 
lawn   Park.     Reorganized   1894.     Oldest  association  in  Chicago. 

31 


Territory,  one  square  mile,  with  $25,000,000.00  of  property  repre- 
sented. Motto,  "Local  improvements  on  a  business  basis." 
Annual  budget,  $14,000.00.  President,  Edward  G.  Carter;  Vice- 
Presidents,  John  P.  McGoorty  and  Edgar  A.  Buzzell;  Treasurer, 
John  N.  Kimball;  Superintendent,  Joseph  F.  Falkner,  Object: 
To  secure  the  co-operation,  of  the  residents  and  property  owners 
for  the  improvement  of  civic  conditions  in  the  community.  The 
territory  is  divided  into  six  districts  and  the  following  standing 
committees  serve  the  Association :  Executive,  Local  Assessment 
and  Taxes,  Streets  and  Alleys,  Buildings  and  Railroads,  Public 
Schools,  Police,  Fire  and  Water,  Arboriculture,  Local  Improve- 
ments.    A  recent  report  tells  of  work  accomplished,  as  follows: 

"Every  improvement  of  a  public  nature,  and  those  of  almost 
every  other  kind,  introduced  into  this  district  during  the  past 
twenty  years,  has  been  either  inaugurated,  assisted  or  carefully 
looked  after  by  the  Association  or  its  representatives.  The 
pumping  system  of  sewerage ;  the  elevation  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railway,  and  location  of  stations  and  subways ;  the  building  of 
the  alley  "L"  road  and  location  of  it^  stations ;  the  paving  of 
streets  and  sidewalks ;  lighting  of  streets ;  estabhshment  of 
public  schools,  fire  engine  and  hook  and  ladder  houses,  police 
station,  fire  and  patrol  boxes ;  tearing  down  old  buildings  and 
excrescences  left  from  the  World's  Fair  period;  reinstatement  of 
express  services  on  Illinois  Central  Railway  discontinued  after 
the  World's  Fair,  etc.,  are  among  the  more  important  of  the 
many  things  attended  to  in  the  past. 

"The  ordinary  routine  work  of  the  Association  consists  in 
procuring  such  public  and  private  improvements  as  may  be 
needed  in  the  way  of  sewers,  water,  gas,  and  lighting,  street  and 
sidewalk  paving,  educational  facilities,  fire  and  police  protection, 
cleaning  and  repairing  of  streets  and  alleys,  garbage  service, 
suppression  of  nuisances  and  all  other  rights  and  privileges  con- 
ferred by  laws  and  ordinances  in  return  for  taxes  and  assess- 
ments paid  for  such  purposes. 

"Heretofore  the  most  important  work  of  the  Association  has 
been  the  removal  of  snow,  ice,  mud  and  water  from  the  side- 
walks and  crossings  during  the  winter  season,  and  the  cutting 
of  weeds  and  grass  in  front  of  vacant  property  in  the  summer. 
It  is  elsewhere  shown  that  the  work  of  the  Association  is  to  be 
very  largely  broadened  and  increased. 

"Some  of  the  matters  outlined  for  the  future  in  the  last 
edition  of  the  Blue  Book  are  generally  known  to  have  been 
actually  accomplished,  notably  the  reconstruction  of  the  sewer 
system,  the  paving  of  63rd  Street,  the  construction  of  exits  from 
the  Illinois  Central  trains  to  64th  and  66th  Streets,  and  the 
building  of  a  new  public  school  in  Woodlawn." 


32 


J 


307.76 
H673n 


t 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

307.76H673N  C001 

NEIGHBORHOOD  IMPROVEMENT  IN  AND  ABOUT  CH 


3  0112  025281558 


